Refrigerating apparatus



Jan. 13, 1931. J. G. KING REFRI GERAT I NG APPARATUS Filed May so, 1928 Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JESSE G. KING, OI" DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, OF DAY- 'TON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE I REFRIGERATING APPARATUS This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to a trap for a refrigerating system for the purpose of governing the flow of refrigerantinto theevaporator of the system.

An object of this invention is to provide a trap in which the flow of refrigerantis governed at the inlet of the evaporator by a valve controlled by a float which float is governed by the level of the refrigerant at the outlet of the evaporator.

Another object of this invention is to provide an evaporator having a trap of the character hereinbefore described provided with a seal for preventing the by-passing of refrigerant thruthe trap which seal does not disturb the buoyancy of the float by reason of the pressure differential acting upon the floatmechanism, and thus does not disturb its calibration.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in cross section, partly in elevation and partly diagrammatic of a refrigerating system embodying features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the evaporator shown in Fig. 1.

A trap embodying features of my invention is adapted to be used with a refrigerating system in which the refrigerant is liquefied in some type of refrigerant liquefying apparatus and is delivered to anevaporator where the refrigerant is evaporated and from whence it is returned to the refrigerant liquefying apparatus. For instance, the refrigerant liquefying apparatus may comprise a compressor 20 delivering compressed refrigerant to a condenser 21. The condenser 21 may discharge into a liquid refrigerant receiver 22. The liquid refrigerant may be delivered from the receiver 22 thru the pipe 23 to the trap 24, which governs the admission of refrigerant into the remainder of the evaporator generally designated Application filed Kay 80, 1928. Serial No. 281,808.

as 25 and from which the evaporated refrigerant returns thru the outlet 26 and the pipe 27 to the compressor 20, preferably at the crankcase. The compressor'20 may be driven by any suitable means such as a motor 28. An automatic control for the motor may be provided, such as an expansible bellows 29 expanding and contracting in accordance with temperatures in a thermostatic bulb 30 connected to the bellows'thru a pipe 31. The bellows 29 may operate a snap switch 32 which controls the starting and stopping of the electric motor 28.

The trap 24 is divided parts which I may desi erant feeder for the cooling unit, which may be embodied in an evaporator feed chamber 40. The other part may be termed the expanded refrigerant float chamber or evaporator outlet chamber 41. The evaporator feed chamber 40 may be provided with a compressed refrigerant inlet generally designated as 42. This inlet may be provided with a valve generally designated as 43 which controls the entrance of liquid refrigerant into the feed chamber 40 and from thence thru the evaporator inlet 44 into the evaporator or cooling coil 25. The cooling coil 25 may be a long pipe having a gradual upwardly-rising gradient in which a plurality of horizontal convolutions 45 are adapted to increase the length of the cooling coil. The cooling coil is adapted to discharge the refrigerant thru the expanded refrigerant float chamber inlet 46 in said float chamber 41 which inlet 46 may be also termed the evaporator outlet. chamber 41 as hereinbefore described is provided with a refrigerant outlet 26 thru which the refrigerant is returned to the refrig erant liquefying apparatus thru the pipe 27.

An operating connection may be provided between the valve 43 and the float 47 in the float chamber. This operating connection may comprise the valve stem 48 extending thru the wall 49'which divides the feed chamber from the float chamber. A pivot 50 may be rovided, and this may be mounted on the wall 49, for'instance, by means of lugs 51. An arm 52 may be pivoted on the pivot 50 generally into two ate as the refrig and may be provided with an extension 53 adapted to bear against the valve stem 48. Thus an operating connection is provided between the float 47, or the arm 52, and the valve 43.

A seal may be provided for preventing the refrigerant from passing between the feed chamber 40 and the float chamber 41 except thru the cooling coil 25. This seal may comprise a flexible member 54 which ma be a metallic, corrugated bellows. This exible seal may be connected to the wall 49 and to the arm 52. For making the connection with the arm 52, a disc55 may be mounted on the arm 52 and the bellows 54 may be connected to this disc 55. Thus it is seen that any pressure difl'erential acting thru the flexible member 54 will always act radially from the pivot 50 along the arm 52 and there is no great tendency to create a rotation by the arm 52 around the pivot 50. That is, the flexible member 54 does nottend to create any forces having any great tan ential components around the pivot 50. 11 order to insure no such tangential forces may exist, the pivot 50 may be located at the center of the natural bending of the bellows 54. By placing the pivot 50 at such a natural bend center no great stresses are produced in the bellows 54 and hence no great tangential forces are transmitted to the arm 52.

Various connections in. the system may be provided with valves in order that certain portions may be removed without the necessity of removing the refrigerant from the system. For instance, valves may be provided near outlet of evaporator as indicated at'60, also near the inlet of the evaporator, as indicated at 61, also at the outlet of the trap, as indicated at 62. If desired a baflie 63 may be interposed between the evaporator outlet 46 and the float 47 in order that no violent disturbances may be transmitted from the discharge of refrigerant from the evaporator to the float 47. Draining means 64 may also be provided in the trap. The trap may be made in any suitable manner, and a convenient way may be by providing two members or castings 65 and 66. The casting 65 may comprise the float chamber 41 and the casting 66 may comprise the evaporator feed chamber 40 together with the dividing wall 49. These two castings may be secured by means of bolts 67 While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all comin within the scope of the'claims which fol ow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An evaporator for a refrigerating system including a trap comprisin a compressed refrigerant inlet, a valve or said ine a refrigerant feeder for a cooling unit connected to said inlet, a float chamber, an expanded refrigerant inlet in said float chamher for receiving refrigerant from said cool mg unit, a float mounted on an arm to swing about a pivot, said float being located in said float chamber, an operating connectionpa'ssing thru a wall of said float chamber between said arm and said valve, a flexible seal connected to said wall and said arm whereby differences in pressures on said seal act radically to said ivot along said arm, and a refrigerant out et in said float chamber.

2. A trap adapted to be part of an evaporator of a refrigerating system comprising an evaporator feed compartment, an evaporator outlet chamber, a wall between said compartment and chamber, a compressed refrigerantinlet in said feed compartment, a valve in said inlet, a float in said outlet chamber, an arm on a pivot carrying said float, an

operating connection between said arm and said valve, a flexible seal connected to said wall and arm for preventing passage of refrigerant between said feed compartment and said outlet chamber in said trap, said seal transmitting pressure differentials substantially Only radially to said pivot along said arm whereby the float is not disturbed by said differentials, and a refrigerantoutlet in said chamber. I

3. A trap for a refrigerating system comprising a compressed refrigerant inlet, a valve for said inlet, a refrigerant feeder for a cooling unit connected to said inlet, a float chamber, an expanded refrigerant inlet in said float chamber for receiving refrigerant from said cooling unit, a float mounted on an arm to swing about a ivot, said float being located in said float chamber, an operating connection passing thru a wall of said floatchamber between said arm and said valve, a metallic corrugated bellows connected to said wall and said arm whereby differences in pressures on said bellows act radially to said pivot along said arm, and a refrigerant outlet in said float chamber.

4. A trap for a refrigerating system comprising a compressed refrigerant inlet, a valve or said inlet, a refrigerant feeder for a cooling unit connected to said inlet, a float chamber, an expanded refrigerant inlet in said float chamber for receiving refrigerant from said cooling unit,a float mounted on an arm to swing about a pivot, said float being located in said float chamber, an operating connection passing thru a wall of said. float chamber between said arm and said valve, a disc on said arm, a metallic corrugated bellows connected to said wall and said disc whereby differences in pressures on said bellows act radially to said pivot along said arm, and a refrigerant outlet in said float chamber.

5. A trap adapted to be .part of an evaporator of a refrigerating system comprising an evaporator feed compartment, an evaporator outlet chamber, a wall between said compartment and chamber, a compressed refrigerant inlet in said feed compartment, a

valve in said inlet, a float in said outlet cham-.

ber, an arm on a pivot carrying said float, an operating connection between said arm and said valve, a metallic corrugated bellows connected to said wall and arm for preventing passage of refrigerant between said feed compartment and said outlet chamber in said trap, said seal transmitting pressure differentials substantially only radially to said pivot along-said arm whereby the float is not disturbed by said differentials, and a refrigerant outlet in said chamber.

6. A trap adapted to be part of an evaporator of a refrigerating system comprising an evaporator feed compartment, an evaporator outlet chamber, a wall between said compartment and chamber, a compressed refrigerant inlet in said feed compartment, a

valve in said inlet, a float in said outletchamher, an arm on a pivot carrying said float, an operating connection between said arm and said valve, a disc on said arm, a metallic corrugated bellows connected to said wall and disc for preventing passage of refrigerant between said feed compartment and said outlet chamber in said trap, said seal transmittin pressure differentials substantially only ra lally to said ivot along said arm whereby the float is not isturbed by said differentials,

and a refrigerant outlet in said chamber.

7. A trap adapted to be part of an evaporator of a refrigerating system comprising an evaporator feed com artment, an evaporator outlet chamber, a wa 1 between said compartment and chamber, a compressed refrigerant inlet in said feed compartment, a valve in said inlet, a float in said outlet chamber, an arm pivoted to said wall and carrying said float an operating connection between said arm an said valve, a flexible seal connected to said wall and arm for preventing .passage of refrigerant between said feed compartment and said outlet chamber in said trap, said seal transmitting ressure differentials substantially only ra ially to said pivot along said arm whereby the float is not disturbed by said differentials, and a refrigerant outlet in said chamber.

8. An evaporator of a refrigerating system including a trap comprising an evaporator feed compartment, an evaporator outlet chamber, a wall between said compartment and chamber, a compressed refrigerant inlet in said feed compartment, a valve in said inlet, a float in said outlet chamber, an arm piggted to said wall and carrying said float,

trap, said seal transmitting pressure diflerentials substantially only radiall to said pivot alon said arm whereb the eat is not disturbed y said difierentia s, and a refrigerant outlet in said chamber.

9. A trap adapted to be part of an evaporator of a refrigerating system comprising an evaporator feed compartment, an evaporator outlet chamber, a wall between said compartment and chamber, a compressed refrigerant inlet in said feed compartment, a valve in said inlet, a float in said outlet chamber, an arm pivoted to said wall and carrying said float, an operating connection between said arm and said valve, a disc on said arm, a metallic corrugated bellows connected to said wall and disc for preventing passage of refrigerant between said feed compartment and said outlet chamber in said tra said seal transmitting pressure diflt'erentia s substantially only radially to said ivot along said arm whereby the float is not isturbed by said differentials, and a refrigerant outlet in said chamber.

10. A trap adapted to be part of an evaporator of a refri crating system comprising an evaporator fees compartment, an evaporator outlet chamber, a wall between said compartment and chamber, a compressed refrigerant inlet in said feed com artment, a valve in said inlet, a float in said outlet chamber, an arm on a pivot having right angled branches radially from said pivot, one of said branches carrying said float, an operating connection between said arm and said valve at the end of the other branch, a flexible seal connected to said wall and arm for preventing passage of refrigerant between said feed compartment and said outlet chamber in said trap, said seal transmitting pressure differentials substantially only radially to said pivot along said arm whereby the float is not disturbed by said differentials, and a refrigerant outlet in said chamber.

Ifl testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

JESSE G. KING.

at? operating connection between said arm compartment and said outletchamber in said 

